Tribunal set to go

November 29 2007

Shepparton News

North Eastern Soccer League will try to end its season tonight, confident it has ticked all the boxes required for a tribunal to proceed.

Shepparton's Adrian Ingham will answer a charge of bringing the game into disrepute for his role in the grand final.

Ingham took a penalty in the game deciding shoot-out despite being substituted from the field during extra-time.

Ingham was called to appear before a tribunal on October 4 when appeals board chairman Gordon Porter ruled his penalty was "unsportsmanlike".

However, a series of delays has put off the tribunal until tonight, the most confusing delay last week when all parties were present but correct paperwork was not.

Shepparton claimed a charge had not been filed through the proper channel against Ingham and tribunal chairman Bob Schirmer agreed, refusing to hold a hearing.

League president Frank Trimboli was the league's only representative present at the non-hearing last week and was certain yesterday that all the loose ends had been tied up.

"Shepparton has been correctly informed of the charge against Adrian Ingham," Trimboli said.

"Everything is in place for the tribunal to go ahead, we don't want a repeat of last week."

Shepparton president Chris Davkovski had asked at the end of last week's tribunal that his club and players be allowed to get on with their lives.

Trimboli said Football Federation Victoria required the league to take action over Ingham's involvement in the game.

The appeals hearing on October 4 had initially ordered the grand final be replayed on October 14 at a venue chosen by North Eastern Soccer League.

However, the league delayed any potential rematch to hear an appeal from Shepparton, which it won on October 15.